Candles,carols usher in Christmas fervour

Excelsis Gloria

People of Delhi, this year, ushered in the Christmas spirit early with a mega musical celebration organised by the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar. The celebration took place on December 13 at the Weight Lifting Auditorium, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

The Mar Thoma Church has been has been organising this musical event since the past five years putting across a message of goodwill and brotherhood.

The musical event began with a mesmerising carol singing performance by the 100-member Gloria Choir which doused the audience in the colours of Christmas. Followed by an address of Rt. Rev. Abraham Mar Paulose episcopa, the youth enacted a skit based on this year’s theme “Return to Innocence” which focused on the rude reality of child labour and abuse supported by pictorial and statistical representation projected in the background. The theme expresses the sturdy stand of the church against child abuse and the support for the victims of the same.

The event witnessed the presence of veteran actor Sharmila Tagore who addressed the gathering sharing her own memories of Christmas celebrations. She identified the generation’s difference where children had a rather happy childhood, but today are
exposed to brutal crimes and exploitation.

Spreading awareness and sensitising people towards these heinous acts of child abuse is the need of the hour, she pointed out. Underlining the importance Christmas and the need to realise the responsibility of society towards the social malaise of child abuse and exploitation, Tagore quoted Benjamin Franklin and this year’s Nobel Peace awardee Malala Yousafzai. “The children are falling victim to child abuse.

I work with UNICEF and I have committed to speak up for children. A lot has been done but a lot needs to be done” she said. The veteran actor is the Goodwill Brand Ambassador of UNICEF. The Bishop felicitated the guest of honour and the winners of slogan writing and photography competition.

The crowd cheered loudly at the announcement of performance by famous band ‘Avial’ from Kerala. The band stole the show as they engaged the audience with their enthralling rendition of lilting hymns, popular Christmas carols and rock music.